Duplex envelope



April 24, 1928.

A. F. TORRANCE DUPLEX ENVELOPE Filed May 24. 1926 INVENTOR. 62. FTarmzwa Patented Apr. 24, 1928.-

umTEo- STATEs ADAM-r. TOR/RANGE, OFVKANSAS CITY, MIssoimI;

DUPLEX- ENVELOPE.

Application flled May 24,

i a This invention relates to duplex envelopes of that class for the t-ransinissionof first and third or fourth class mailmatter. Envelopes of this class customarily comprise a 5 large compartmentsfortheflower class matter and a small compartment torthe first forgetfulness or to; the fact that,,as the envelope is usually turnediback side up for convenience in withdrawing theuunsealed flap o l the large compartment, the' letter compartment on thefront-side ishidden from view and thus overlooked, and this is true of that class-of duplex envelopes which provides the first class compartmentwitha flap reaching around the lower edge/ ot the envelope and superimposed on and secured to the backthereot, .even ifxsuchvfiapgbears a, warning against oversight, and] most people invert the envelopes for the removal of the lower class mattelflwith thez-right hand, and as a result the warning? is likewise inverted and therefore can he readily overldoked. My object is to produce; a "dusmall or first class compartment at both ,the front side and the rear -side of-the,largecompa rtment, thus clo ililiiiglxl'le' chances against overlooking an d removing the firstclass mail matter. t Another object is to} providefthe first class compartment withqa thirdior end opening and a flap atsuchendi andto:secure such flap against the front, side of the'large' ,compartment,usually by superimposing it Y uponfthe flap of the large compartment so that when thelatter is folded into the large compartment without vsecuringfthe same, the end flap of the small compartment shall he likewise folded into the large compartment and he tin-noticeable; a a a that theend opening of the small com-part ment should be sealed, and-if suchcompartment has an end openingand an; end' flap,

such flap must be' secured-tothe large compartment, and preferably to ,theifiap thereof,

le'X envelo 3e havin a securin fla for; the

a: h r, i

enceis to be had (first class compartm en Under certain conditions, as specified in] r around upon the, back portion-0t the latter ment;

1925. a Serial No. 1 11,111.

so that when the flap 03E thelarge compartn'ientfis severed togive access to the compartment, the sealing end flap of the small or tirst'class compartment islikewise severed so as to give accessgat the same time to the contents of the small or first class compartment.

still further object is to provide a du plelx envelope otsuch character that a single address will satisfy the postal requirements for the transmission of both classes of mail matter Anotherohjcct is to provide; a duplex envelope equipped with a sealing flap for the first class con'ipartmentwhich :is superimposedupon the hack of thellai'ge con ipartment and an outline upoirthe hack of the latter. which in combination or at); operation with such sealing flap shall picturetos'the mind ot; the recipient the fact thatsuch combined features a-rerepresentalive of afirst classn'iail matter container or comlf artment and thus serves as a guard against failure to obtain access to such compartment for the; removal ot'qthe contents thereof. r a I ,VYith these objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinationscit-parts as hereinafter described and claimed: and in order that it may he tullyunderstood, refer- V to the accompanying drawing, in which i i i v @Figure l is a perspective viewota duplex envelope embodying the invention. with the t equipped with a top, n andend flap. l I 1 ure 2 is a perspectiveview ofttheen- Mose inverted to illustrate the bottom flap oiti'the firs lass compartment assecurcdto the rear S]d(5"0f,t-ll6 lower class compartment, and also illustrates an outline which vin conjunction with said flap presents a.pictuxre or simulation of coi'npartment.

the small or first class .FigureB isan enlarged section on the line ljlllIIof Figural. e 7 e I Figure 4- is an enlargedsection on the line IS IVQOl Fl Q'UYG 1 I i 7 Figure 5 is a view -o't the blank hetore folding; of oneitype ot tirstclass compart- Figurefifis a perspective view of] the dua 1 plex envelope equipped with a modified form otthe first class compartment Figure 7 an k enlarged section on'the line VIITVIIjfot Figure 6. a i l Figure 8 is a View of the blank which when folded provides the type of first class compartment illustrated by Figures 6 and 7.

In the said drawing, 1 indicates a large envelope or compartment suitable for containing low class mail matter, such as book let-s, catalogues and the like, and said envelope or compartment is provided with a closing flap 2, preferably at the end, and susceptible of being sealed under certain conditions, as provided for in the postal regulations. There is nothing novel in the envelope or compartment 1 considered'by itself, as it is nothing more or less than a large envelope of conventional type.

The small compartment identified generally by the character 3, consists in one form, of a generally elongated rectangular blank foldable transversely on the dotted line 4 to produce a rearside 5 and a front side 6. At the .top of the rear side 5 there is a sealing flap 7 containing adhesive 8. At the bottom of side 6 there is a similar fla 9 having adhesive 10. The blank when fol ed on the line 4 is placed upon thesface of the envelope 1 substantially as indicated by Figure 1, and byadhesive or equivalent means, is fastened permanently to the large envelope. The free end of side 6 is defined by the dotted line 11 and said side is provided with an extension constituting an end flap 12 containing adhesive, which fiap is adapted to be superimposed upon the face of flap 2 of the envelope .1. To avoid the necessity of the user sealing all three .flaps 7. 9 and 12, the manufacturer at the time the small envelope is permanently aiiixed to the large one, will ordinarily seal two of the flaps, leaving the third flapselected by the user-to be sealed by the latter after the letter is inserted.

The sealing of the end flap 12 to the flap 2 not only assists in fastening the small envelope to the large one but incidentally seals the opening provided by the co-incidental free ends of the sides 5 and 6. The two envelopes are then in condition for receiving the matter to be mailed, the first class matter or letter being inserted in the small envelope and there so sealed by the fastening down of the unsealed flap. The low class mail matter is then placed in the large envelope and either retained'therein by tucking the flap 2 in place or by any equivalent and well known method. Under certain conditions the flap 2 may be sealed, which conditions are provided for by the postal regulationsand have no bearing upon'the question of invention here involved.

character to use only one address, as the two compartments or envelopes are inseparably connected, it being necessary, however to place fourth class postage on the face of the large envelope and firstclass to provide an outline on the back of such envelope so related to the flap as to represent incombination' therewith a first class envelope or compartment as indicated at 13 in Figure 2, it being noted by reference to 1 said figure that the flap 9 and the line 13 will naturally attract the attention of any one immediately the envelope is turned over for the purpose of removing the contents of the large compartment, and thus suggests the necessity of severing the flap 9 to give access to the contents of the small compartment. If the recipient gives his attention to the first'class mail matter, he naturally will sever the flap 7, and in those cases where the flap 2 is sealed, the severance of said 'fiap will not only give access to the large compartment, but also to the smallcompart ment at the right hand end thereof.

In Figures 6 and 8, inclusive, a modified type ofs'mall envelope is shown; In this type a blank of substantiallysquare form is provided, foldable centrally on line 14 to provide a rear side 15 and a front side 16,

the face of-the rear side being shown as supplied with adhesive 17 for the purpose of closing the ends of the envelope, though if the side 16 has an end extension 16 corresponding to extension 12, the corresponding ends of the sides need not besealed. The rear side 15 is provided with a top sealing flap-18, and cut out of the lower edge of the said 'sideras at 1 9 is a corresponding'sealing flap 20, adapted to be folded under the lower edge of the large envelope and sealed upon the back thereof in the manner as explained in connection with flap 9,

It will be apparent that a duplex envelope corresponding to Figures 6 and 7 is in all essentials the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, in that in the complete duplex envelope there are 'two normal top and bottom flaps for the first class compartment severable so that access may be had from either of the two sides of the lower class compartment. It is also similar in that if provided with the extension 16 fastened to the flap of the large envelope, the

severance ofthe latter will give access to the ends of both compartments. It 1s customary with an envelope of this From the above description it will be apparent that I haveproduced a duplex envelope embodying thefeatures of advantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the objects'of the invention, and which is susceptible of modification in minor'particufrom the principle bottom opening and a sealing flap for each of said openings, the top flap folding over the front face of the small envelope to seal the top opening and the bottom flap folding upon the back of the large envelope to seal the bottom openin 2. The combination 0% an envelope having a closing flap at one end, of a smaller envelope superimposed upon the face of and fastened to the large one and provided with a top and bottom opening and with a seal ing flap. for each of said openings, the top flap f0 ing over the smallenvelope to seal the top opening and the bottom flap upon the back of the large envelope to seal the bottom opening; the small envelopealsohaving an end opening and a flap at the same end fastened to the flap of the large enand foldable co-incidentally with the velope latter.

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ADAM F. TORRANCE. 

